System and method of facilitating transactions over a computer network

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a system and method of facilitating online transactions. The present invention is capable of receiving product information, storing same upon a repository and profiling each product according to geographical region. When a customer accesses the website utilized by the present invention, his or her address information is used to determine a geographical area of residence. Geographical area specific product forms are stored upon the repository in image-type format (for example, PDF format) substantially identical to the forms as they would appear if presented to the customer as a hard copy. Thus, once the customer has verified the correct purchasing information, the invention imports the purchasing information into the appropriate image-type geographical area specific form and displays same to the customer. Once the customer has reviewed the appropriate image-type forms, he or she may electronically “sign” each document so that the financial product purchase may be consummated. To accomplish this, the invention provides a signature button. When the customer selects the signature button, the system navigates the customer to the next form to be signed, completed with the appropriate data, and accompanied by the appropriate disclaimers.

[0001] This patent application claims priority from a provisional patentapplication entitled “Online Purchase Process,” Serial No. 60/337,816,having a filing date of Dec. 5, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to electronic commerceand, more particularly, to a system and method of facilitating thepurchase of financial products over a computer network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The Internet has emerged as, a large community ofelectronically-connected users located around the world who readily andregularly exchange significant amounts of information. The Internetcontinues to serve its original purpose of providing access and exchangeof information among government agencies, laboratories, and universitiesfor research and education. In addition, the Internet has evolved toserve a variety of interests and forums that extend beyond its originalgoals.

[0004] There is growing interest in electronic commerce, wherebyindividuals and/or entities can transact business with other individualsand/or entities via interconnected networks, such as the Internet.Electronic commerce offers advantages to both buyers and vendors. Withelectronic commerce, a buyer may access many more vendors than could beachieved via conventional methods of commerce. Thus, with electroniccommerce, buyers can potentially achieve a lower purchase price, as wellas a wider selection of goods and/or services. By the same token,electronic commerce affords vendors a larger market place, and access toa larger number of buyers.

[0005] Much of the electronic commerce presently conducted betweenbuyers and vendors occurs by the exchange of data in the form ofgraphics and/or text. Typically, a buyer seeking to purchase goodsand/or services electronically initiates the transaction by firstestablishing a data link with the vendor. For example, if the vendorpossesses a web site on the World-Wide Web portion of the Internet, thebuyer initially makes a connection via a computer, to an InternetService Provider. Once connected, the buyer then enters the UniversalResource Locator (URL) associated with the vendor to access thatvendor's web site. After the buyer has accessed the vendor's web site,the buyer enters the information needed to complete the transaction.

[0006] Today, the Internet is widely utilized in connection with thesale of financial products. Financial institutions, such as banks andinsurance companies, provide online financial product information forbrowsing by the customer. For a majority of financial products, onlinepurchasing is fairly straightforward. Once the customer has decided topurchase a particular product, he or she is required to enter personalinformation upon a series of forms in order to complete the transaction.

[0007] However, some financial products are subject to specialized legalrequirements which makes conducting an online transaction moredifficult. Such laws typically require the customer to review and signone or more State mandated forms in order to purchase financialproducts, such as annuities. Known systems have dealt with thisrequirement by allowing the customer to download required forms so thathe or she may print each form as a hard copy and sign each by hand. Theforms are then sent to the financial institution by regular mail so thatthe transaction may be consummated.

[0008] Other known systems, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No.6,233,565, allow for the submission of true digital signatures.Unfortunately, this method requires both the vendor and the customer toobtain and utilize specialized authentication software in order tocomplete the transaction. There remains a need for a system and methodof facilitating the online purchase of financial products that allowsthe customer to consummate financial transactions without the use ofspecialized authentication software.

[0009] Further, each State of the United States promulgates its ownrules regarding which annuities State residents may purchase and howsuch purchases must be consummated. There remains a need for a systemand method of facilitating the online purchase of products capable of 1)determining an online customer's State of residence, 2) identifyingwhich products may be purchased by the online customer given thecustomer's State of residence, 3) providing the customer with onlineforms having a substantially identical appearance to those mandated byapplicable State law and 4) providing a method of consummating onlinetransactions that does not require the buyer to obtain specializedequipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides a system and methodof facilitating the online purchase of products. The present inventionallows financial products, such as annuities, to be browsed andpurchased online. The present invention is capable of receiving productinformation, storing same and profiling each financial product accordingto geographical region. When a customer accesses the website utilized bythe present invention, his or her address information is used todetermine a State of residence. Thus, upon request by the customer, thepresent invention displays financial product information applicable tothe State in which the customer resides.

[0011] If the customer decides to apply for a financial product online,the invention authenticates the customer's identity and provides aseries of data gathering fields within which the customer may enteradditional purchasing information. The purchasing information is thendisplayed for verification by the customer. State-specific financialproduct forms are stored in a repository in image-type format (forexample, Portable Document Format (PDF) substantially identical to theforms as they would appear if presented to the customer as a hard copy.Thus, once the customer has verified the correct purchasing information,the invention imports the purchasing information into the appropriateimage-type State-specific form and displays same to the customer. Thisensures that what the customer sees is substantially identical to theform utilized in the customer's State for mailing traditional financialproduct sales packets.

[0012] Once the customer has reviewed the appropriate image-type forms,he or she may electronically “sign” each document so that the financialproduct purchase may be consummated. To accomplish this, the inventionprovides a signature button. When the customer selects the signaturebutton, the system navigates the customer to the next form to be signed,completed with the appropriate data, and accompanied by the appropriatedisclaimers.

[0013] Each time the signature button is selected, a unique log recordis entered into a repository. The entry contains the customer number,form number, and the time and date the form was signed online. The timeand date stamp of the e-signature is also recorded in the signatureblock on each image-type form. Selecting the signature button causes anelectronic copy of the completed form and its e-signature record to besaved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a component diagram of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram illustrating the retrieval anddisplay of geographical area specific product information in oneembodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating the retrieval andincorporation of customer transactional data into geographical areaspecific electronic forms in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram illustrating the e-signatureprocess of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention is herein described as a method offacilitating transactions over a computer network using an e-commercesite and as a computer system for facilitating transactions over acomputer network. In one embodiment, each repository comprises one ormore storage devices capable of storing electronic data.

[0020] Referring to the Figures, the present invention is capable ofdetermining an online customer's geographical area of residence,identifying which products are available for purchase by the onlinecustomer given his or her geographical area, displaying one or moreelectronic forms having a substantially identical appearance to thosemandated by applicable law, and providing a unique method of authorizingonline product purchases.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is equipped with aprocessor (12) capable of directing and facilitating commercial activityover a computer network (14). In one embodiment, the processor (12) ofthe present invention is electronically coupled to one or morerepositories (16 and 18 respectively) capable of storing electronicdata. Each repository, as described in greater detail below, may be anydevice capable of storing and/or maintaining data including, but notlimited to storage devices, databases, files, memories or arrays. In oneembodiment, a pre-transaction repository (16) is used to storebackground information required to facilitate and complete onlineproduct purchases. Specifically, the pre-transaction repository (16) iscapable of housing background information necessary to complete anonline transaction. For example, the pre-transaction repository maycontain customer information such as name, address, phone number, etc.,for a plurality of customers that may be retrieved as required. Further,the pre-transaction repository (16) may be used to store productinformation relating to a plurality of products available for purchase.

[0022] The pre-transaction repository is described in a singular contextfor ease of illustration only. Thus, it should be understood that thepre-transaction repository (16) may comprise one or more separaterepositories (16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, respectively) each designed toretain electronic information. In one embodiment, the pre-transactionrepository (16) comprises a customer information repository (16A), aproduct availability rules repository (16B), a product informationrepository (16C), a forms rules/tables repository (16D), and aforms/templates repository (16E).

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, upon accessing the e-commerce site (22) ofthe present invention, the customer is allowed to review general productinformation. Specifically, the customer is given access to a host ofproduct information describing a wide array of available products. Inone embodiment, the present invention provides comparison information toassist the customer in choosing between various products.

[0024] Customer information is utilized to determine the geographicalarea attributable to the identified customer. If the customer providesproduct specific information, i.e., information denoting a particulartype or category of product(s) that the customer is interested inapplying for, the processor (12) of the present invention will searchthe pre-transaction repository (16) for products that are available forpurchase in the customer's geographical area. In one embodiment, theprocessor (12) of the present invention is designed to search productavailability according to the customer's State of residence. Productinformation available for purchase by the customer may then be displayedupon the e-commerce site (22) of the present invention for review by thecustomer, as illustrated by box (26).

[0025] To determine the availability of product(s) within one or moregeographical areas, the present invention maintains one or more productavailability rules defining which products are available in a pluralityof geographical areas, as illustrated by box (16B). In one embodiment,the pre-transaction repository (16) contains stored product availabilityrules (16B) that may be searched by the processor (12) as required.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, if the customer indicates a desire topurchase a particular product, he or she is prompted to providetransactional information into one or more data fields displayed uponthe e-commerce site of the present invention, as illustrated by boxes(28 and 30). The present invention requests transactional informationuseful in determining which forms must be filled out to facilitate theonline purchase of the desired product. For example, if the customerwishes to purchase a financial product, the processor (12) of thepresent invention will prompt the customer to provide transactionalinformation such as whether the purchase is non-qualified or qualified,whether the purchase is a new purchase or an exchange, and/or whetherthe customer wishes to pay online or via conventional means. In oneembodiment, transactional information is temporarily stored in an array,as illustrated by box (32).

[0027] Transactional information entered by the user is utilized todetermine which forms must be completed in the customer's geographicalarea in order to purchase the desired product. Thus, in one embodiment,the processor (12) of the present invention utilizes both the storedcustomer information and the stored transactional information todetermine 1) what geographical area's purchasing requirements apply, and2) which forms must be completed to facilitate the purchase.

[0028] Once the correct forms to facilitate the transaction have beenascertained, the customer is prompted for a password or otheridentifier. The identifier is used to validate the identity of thecustomer so that confidential customer information may be retrieved fromthe pre-transaction repository. Once the system validates theidentifier, customer information is retrieved from the pre-transactionrepository and displayed to the customer on the e-commerce site of thepresent invention. The customer is then prompted to enter additionalpersonal information that was not available on the pre-transactionrepository into one or more data fields displayed upon the e-commercesite of the present invention. The present invention requests only thepersonal information required by the forms that will be presented forthe customer's electronic authorization.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, once the accuracy of the transactionalinformation is confirmed by the customer, the form is converted intoimage type format for display to the customer upon the e-commerce site(22) of the present invention, as illustrated by box (38). Image typedata forms are utilized by the present invention to ensure that eachform is displayed to the customer as required by applicable law. In oneembodiment, the present invention utilizes Portable Document Format(PDF) to ensure that the form is accessible by a plurality of customersand appears substantially identical to its corresponding hard-copyversion.

[0030] The present invention provides a novel methodology forconsummating the sale of product(s) on line. In one embodiment, thecompleted image type data form is displayed upon the e-commerce site(22) along with an e-signature button and explanation material, asillustrated by boxes (38) and (40). At a minimum, the explanationmaterial informs the customer that he or she may electronicallyauthorize the submission of the displayed image type data form byselecting the e-signature button. In one embodiment, the explanationmaterial includes one or more legal disclaimers designed to protect thee-commerce website owner and comply with notice requirements, if any.The act of selecting the e-signature button by the customer may compriseany signal from the customer intended to authorize the submission of theform including, but not limited to, clicking the mouse, speaking asound, performing a keyboard stroke, etc., as illustrated by box (42).

[0031] Upon selection of the e-signature button, the processor (12) ofthe present invention merges the date and time of electronicauthorization, i.e., selection of the e-signature button, into the imagetype data form. In one embodiment, this merged form is temporarilystored within a temporary repository, as illustrated by box (46).

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the authorized form is then storedupon a post-transaction repository (18). The post-transaction repository(18) is described in a singular context for ease of illustration only.Thus, it should be understood that the post-transaction repository (18)may comprise one or more separate repositories (18A and 18B,respectively), each designed to retain electronic information. In oneembodiment, the post-transaction repository (18) comprises an authorizedform repository (18A) and a log repository (18B). In one embodiment, theauthorized form containing customer information, transactionalinformation, and e-signature time and date information, is stored uponthe authorized form repository (18A).

[0033] Upon selection of the e-signature button, the processor (12) ofthe present invention creates a log record of the transaction forstorage upon a log repository (18B), as illustrated by box (44). Thus,the present invention maintains dual records to ensure redundancy of thedata in the event one device is ever compromised, and to ensure that anyquestions regarding when a transaction occurred can be quickly resolved.

[0034] The present invention is capable of retrieving and displayingmultiple forms to the customer for his or her e-signature, asillustrated by box (48). This feature of the present invention isespecially useful for product(s) which require multiple forms be“signed” by the customer. Again, the type and number of forms requiredis dependent on the geographical area within which the customer resides.

[0035] Although the present invention may be used in conjunction with awide variety of online transactions, it is especially useful infacilitating financial transactions. To illustrate, the capability ofthe present invention to tailor product information to the geographicalarea of the customer makes the present invention ideally suited tofacilitate the purchase of annuities. Different geographical areas and,particularly, each State of the United States of America, promulgatesits own annuity purchasing guidelines. In doing so, each State requiresone or more forms be filled out and signed by the customer in order topurchase an annuity.

[0036] The present invention allows each State's purchasing requirementsto be met by maintaining one or more series of updated State approvedforms that may be displayed and signed by the customer. The e-signatureprocess of the present invention is capable of satisfying each State'snotice requirements and allows the customer to view each form atsubstantially the same moment that he or she authorizes signature. Inone embodiment, the present invention encourages customers to purchaseannuities online through automatic withdrawal from their bank account.This is accomplished by providing the customer with one or moreincentives as of the day of e-signature and authorization for automaticpayment.

[0037] Elements of this application may be recited as being “coupled”;this terminology's use contemplates elements being connected together insuch a way that there may be other components interstitially locatedbetween the specified elements, and that the elements so specified maybe connected in fixed or movable relation one to the other. The term“coupled” should be contrasted with the use of the terminology “direct”connection which designates a relationship or joinder that does not haveother components interstitially located there between, but thecomponents may be fixed or movable with respect to one another. Stillfurther, some structural relationships or orientations may be designatedwith the word “substantially”. In those cases, it is meant that therelationship or orientation is as described, with allowances forvariations that do not affect the cooperation of the described componentor components.

[0038] Although the invention has been described with reference tospecific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in alimited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, aswell as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparentto persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description ofthe invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claimswill cover such modifications that fall within the scope of theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A method of facilitating transactions over a computernetwork using an e-commerce site comprising the steps of: a) providing afirst repository containing customer information for a plurality ofcustomers; b) providing a second repository containing productinformation relating to a plurality of products; c) receiving a requestto review said product information from a first of said plurality ofcustomers; d) utilizing said customer information, determining whichgeographical area is attributable to said first customer; and e)utilizing said geographical area attributable to said first customer andone or more product availability rules, retrieving product informationfrom said second repository and displaying said product information uponsaid e-commerce site, each of said products described by said productinformation being available for purchase in said first customer'sgeographical area.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising theadditional steps of: f) receiving, from said first customer, anindication that he or she wishes to purchase a first of said products;g) displaying, upon said e-commerce site, a plurality of data fieldsassociated with to said first product, said data fields capable ofreceiving transactional information from said first customer, saidtransactional information being required in said first customer'sgeographical area for the purchase of said first product; and, h)displaying an image type data form containing said transactionalinformation upon said e-commerce site for review by said customer, saidimage type data form being substantially identical to the correspondingform required in said first customer's geographical area for thepurchase of said first product.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising the additional steps of: i) displaying said image type dataform and an e-signature button upon said e-commerce site; j) upon saidfirst customer's selection of said e-signature button, creating a logrecord of the transaction; and, k) importing the time and date ofe-signature button selection by said first customer into said image typedata form.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additionalsteps of: receiving product specific information from said firstcustomer describing one or more types of said products said customerwould prefer to review; and, utilizing said geographical areaattributable to said first customer and said product specificinformation, retrieving product information and displaying said productinformation upon said e-commerce site, each of said products describedby said product information being available for purchase in said firstcustomer's geographical area.
 5. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising the additional step of: if more than one of said image typedata forms is required to purchase said first product, repeating stepsg) through k) until said first customer has selected said e-signaturebutton for each image type data form required in said first customer'sgeographical area to purchase said first product.
 6. A method offacilitating financial transactions over a computer network using ane-commerce site comprising the steps of: a) providing a first repositorycontaining customer information for a plurality of customers; b)providing a second repository containing product information relating toa plurality of financial products; c) receiving a request to review saidproduct information from a first of said plurality of customers; d)utilizing said customer information, determining which geographical areais attributable to said first customer; and e) utilizing saidgeographical area attributable to said first customer, retrieving one ormore of said financial products from said second repository anddisplaying said one or more of said financial products upon saide-commerce site, each of said financial products being available forpurchase in said first customer's geographical area.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein said first repository and said second repository arethe same repository.
 8. The method of claim 6 or 7, further comprisingthe additional steps of: f) receiving, from said first customer, anindication that he or she wishes to purchase a first of said financialproducts; g) displaying, upon said e-commerce site, a plurality of datafields associated with said first financial product, said data fieldscapable of receiving transactional information from said first customer,said transactional information being required in said first customer'sgeographical area for the purchase of said first financial product; andh) displaying an image type data form containing said transactionalinformation upon said e-commerce site for review by said customer, saidimage type data form being substantially identical to the correspondingform required in said first customer's geographical area for thepurchase of said first financial product.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising the additional steps of: i) displaying said imagetype data form and an e-signature button upon said e-commerce site; j)upon said first customer's selection of said e-signature button,creating a log record of the transaction; and, k) importing the time anddate of e-signature button selection by said first customer into saidimage type data form.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising theadditional step of: retrieving said customer information from said firstrepository.
 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the additionalsteps of: receiving product specific information from said firstcustomer describing one or more types of said financial products saidcustomer would prefer to review; and, utilizing said geographical areaattributable to said first customer and said product specificinformation, retrieving one or more of said financial products anddisplaying said one or more financial products upon said e-commercesite, each of said financial products being available for purchase insaid first customer's geographical area.
 12. The method of claim 7,further comprising the additional step of: maintaining a plurality ofproduct availability rules, said rules utilized to determine which ofsaid financial products are available in each of said geographicalareas.
 13. The method of claim 7, further comprising the additional stepof: displaying one or more comparison points upon said e-commerce sitefor review by said plurality of customers.
 14. The method of claim 8,wherein said transactional information from said first customer intosaid data fields is presented upon said e-commerce site for validationby said first customer.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein said imagetype data form is presented upon said e-commerce site in portabledocument format.
 16. The method of claim 9, further comprising theadditional step of: displaying said image type data form, one or morelegal disclaimers relating to said image type data form and saide-signature button upon said e-commerce site.
 17. The method of claim 9,further comprising the additional step of: crediting said first customerwith one or more incentives in exchange for the purchase of said firstfinancial product.
 18. The method of claim 9, further comprising theadditional step of: if more than one of said image type data forms isrequired to purchase said first financial product, repeating steps g)through k) until said first customer has selected said e-signaturebutton for each image type data form required in said first customer'sgeographical area to purchase said first financial product.
 19. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising the additional step of: storingsaid image type data form upon a third repository.
 20. A method offacilitating financial transactions over a computer network using ane-commerce site comprising the steps of: a) providing a first repositorycontaining customer information for a plurality of customers; b)providing a second repository containing product information relating toa plurality of financial products; c) receiving a request to review saidproduct information from a first of said plurality of customers; d)utilizing said customer information, determining which geographical areais attributable to said first customer; e) utilizing said geographicalarea attributable to said first customer, retrieving one or more of saidfinancial products from said second repository and displaying said oneor more of said financial products upon said e-commerce site, each ofsaid financial products being available for purchase in said firstcustomer's geographical area; f) receiving, from said first customer, anindication that he or she wishes to purchase a first of said financialproducts; g) displaying, upon said e-commerce site, a plurality of datafields associated with said first financial product, said data fieldscapable of receiving transactional information from said first customer,said transactional information being required in said first customer'sgeographical area for the purchase of said first financial product; h)displaying an image type data form containing said transactionalinformation upon said e-commerce site for review by said customer, saidimage type data form being substantially identical to the correspondingform required in said first customer's geographical area for thepurchase of said first financial product; i) displaying said image typedata form and an e-signature button upon said e-commerce site; j) uponsaid first customer's selection of said e-signature button, creating alog record of the transaction; and, k) importing the time and date ofe-signature button selection by said first customer into said image typedata form.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the additionalsteps of: receiving product specific information from said firstcustomer describing one or more types of said financial products saidcustomer would prefer to review; utilizing said geographical areaattributable to said first customer and said product specificinformation, retrieving one or more of said financial products anddisplaying said one or more financial products upon said e-commercesite, each of said financial products being available for purchase insaid first customer's geographical area; maintaining a plurality ofproduct availability rules, said rules utilized to determine which ofsaid financial products are available in each of said geographicalareas; displaying one or more comparison points upon said e-commercesite for review by said plurality of customers; displaying said imagetype data form, one or more legal disclaimers relating to said imagetype data form and said e-signature button upon said e-commerce site;crediting said first customer with one or more incentives in exchangefor the purchase of said first financial product; if more than one ofsaid image type data forms is required to purchase said first financialproduct, repeating steps g) through k) until said first customer hasselected said e-signature button for each image type data form requiredin said first customer's geographical area to purchase said firstfinancial product; and storing said image type data form upon a thirdrepository.
 22. A computer system for facilitating financialtransactions over a computer network using an e-commerce site comprisingthe steps of: providing a first repository containing customerinformation for a plurality of customers; providing a second repositorycontaining product information relating to a plurality of financialproducts; and providing a processing unit coupled to said firstrepository and said second repository, said processing unit capable ofreceiving a request to review said product information from a first ofsaid plurality of customers, determining which geographical area isattributable to said first customer and, utilizing said geographicalarea attributable to said first customer, retrieving one or more of saidfinancial products from said second repository and displaying said oneor more of said financial products upon said e-commerce site, each ofsaid financial products being available for purchase in said firstcustomer's geographical area.
 23. The computer system of claim 22,wherein said processing unit is defined as being further capable ofreceiving, from said first customer, an indication that he or she wishesto purchase a first of said financial products, displaying, upon saide-commerce site, a plurality of data fields associated with said firstfinancial product, said data fields capable of receiving transactionalinformation from said first customer and said transactional informationbeing required in said first customer's geographical area for thepurchase of said first financial product and displaying an image typedata form containing said transactional information upon said e-commercesite for review by said customer, said image type data form beingsubstantially identical to the corresponding form required in said firstcustomer's geographical area for the purchase of said first financialproduct.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said computer system isfurther defined as being capable of displaying said image type data formand an e-signature button upon said e-commerce site, creating, upon saidfirst customer's selection of said e-signature button, a log record ofthe transaction and importing the time and date of e-signature buttonselection by said first customer into said image type data form.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, wherein said computer system is further defined asbeing capable of retrieving said customer information from said firstrepository.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein said computer system isfurther defined as being capable of crediting said first customer withone or more incentives in exchange for the purchase of said firstfinancial product.
 27. A computer system for facilitating financialtransactions over a computer network using an e-commerce site comprisingthe steps of: providing a first repository containing customerinformation for a plurality of customers; providing a second repositorycontaining product information relating to a plurality of financialproducts; and providing a processing unit coupled to said firstrepository and said second repository, said processing unit capable ofreceiving a request to review said product information from a first ofsaid plurality of customers, determining which geographical area isattributable to said first customer and, utilizing said geographicalarea attributable to said first customer, retrieving one or more of saidfinancial products from said second repository, displaying said one ormore of said financial products upon said e-commerce site, each of saidfinancial products being available for purchase in said first customer'sgeographical area, receiving, from said first customer, an indicationthat he or she wishes to purchase a first of said financial products,displaying, upon said e-commerce site, a plurality of data fieldsassociated with said first financial product, said data fields capableof receiving transactional information from said first customer, saidtransactional information being required in said first customer'sgeographical area for the purchase of said first financial product,displaying an image type data form containing said transactionalinformation upon said e-commerce site for review by said customer, saidimage type data form being substantially identical to the correspondingform required in said first customer's geographical area for thepurchase of said first financial product, displaying said image typedata form and an e-signature button upon said e-commerce site, creating,upon said first customer's selection of said e-signature button, a logrecord of the transaction and importing the time and date of e-signaturebutton selection by said first customer into said image type data form.28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein said processing unit isdefined as being further capable of receiving product specificinformation from said first customer describing one or more types ofsaid financial products said customer would prefer to review, utilizingsaid geographical area attributable to said first customer and saidproduct specific information, retrieving one or more of said financialproducts and displaying said one or more financial products upon saide-commerce site, each of said financial products being available forpurchase in said first customer's geographical area, maintaining aplurality of product availability rules, said rules utilized todetermine which of said financial products are available in each of saidgeographical areas, displaying one or more comparison points upon saide-commerce site for review by said plurality of customers, displayingsaid image type data form, one or more legal disclaimers relating tosaid image type data form and said e-signature button upon saide-commerce site, crediting said first customer with one or moreincentives in exchange for the purchase of said first financial product,and storing said image type data form upon a third repository.